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Non-response behaviour in the Bank of Italy�s Survey of Household Income and Wealth

Author

Listed:
  • Giovanni D'Alessio

    (Bank of Italy, Economic Research Department)

  • Ivan Faiella

    (Bank of Italy, Economic Research Department)

Abstract

This paper aims to describe non-respondents in the Bank of Italy�s Survey of Household Income and Wealth (SHIW) and to measure the underestimation of income and wealth attributable to non-response. The evidence confirms that non-response is not random, since it is more frequent among wealthier households. Therefore exclusive use of poststratification procedures based on demographic characteristics only, which are commonly employed, cannot properly adjust for the selection process observed in the SHIW. As to the estimates of average aggregates, the bias seems to be greater for financial assets (the adjusted estimates are from 15 to 31 per cent higher than the unadjusted) than for income (for which the adjustments vary from 5 to 14 per cent, probably owing to a greater asymmetry in the distribution of wealth.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni D'Alessio & Ivan Faiella, 2002. "Non-response behaviour in the Bank of Italy�s Survey of Household Income and Wealth," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 462, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    • Handle: RePEc:bdi:wptemi:td_462_02
    as

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    File URL: http://www.bancaditalia.it/pubblicazioni/temi-discussione/2002/2002-0462/tema_462_02.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Andrea Brandolini, 1999. "The Distribution of Personal Income in Post-War Italy: Source Description, Data Quality, and the Time Pattern of Income Inequality," Giornale degli Economisti, GDE (Giornale degli Economisti e Annali di Economia), Bocconi University, vol. 58(2), pages 183-239, September.
    2. Wolff, Edward N., 1994. "Trends in Household Wealth in the United States: 1962-1983 and 1983-1989," Working Papers 94-03, C.V. Starr Center for Applied Economics, New York University.
    3. Hayashi, Fumio & Ando, Albert & Ferris, Richard, 1988. "Life cycle and bequest savings A study of Japanese and U.S. households based on data from the 1984 NSFIE and the 1983 survey of consumer finances," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 2(4), pages 450-491, December.
    4. Robert B. Avery & Gregory E. Elliehausen & Arthur B. Kennickell, 1988. "Measuring Wealth With Survey Data: An Evaluation Of The 1983 Survey Of Consumer Finances," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 34(4), pages 339-369, December.
    5. Avery, Robert B & Elliehausen, Gregory E & Kennickell, Arthur B, 1988. "Measuring Wealth with Survey Data: An Evaluation of the 1983 Survey of Consumer Finances," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 34(4), pages 339-369, December.
    6. John McNeil & Enrique Lamas, 1989. "Year-Apart Estimates of Household Net Worth from the Survey of Income and Program Participation," NBER Chapters, in: The Measurement of Saving, Investment, and Wealth, pages 431-472, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Non-response; non-sampling errors; sample surveys; income; wealth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C42 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Survey Methods
    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution

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